Switch throw or keeper



March 4, 1930. 4 A. GALEY 1,749,478

SWITCH THROW OR KEEPER Filed May 14, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l0 z W ATTORNEYS.

March 4, 1930.

A GALEY SWITCH THROW OR KEEPER Filed May 14, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: 4555 7174151,

ATTORN EYS.

I O Q g Patented Mar. 4, 1930 PATENT OFFICE I ALBERT. VGAL EY, OF SEELYVILLE, INDIANA swirrcn marrow on KEEPER Applicationfiled May 1 4, 1928.

' The present invention relates to railway switches and more specificallyto switch structures for use in connection with mine railways .and'the like.

5 The primary object of the invention is to provide means whereby the switch point will be yieldably held in set positions against either of the main rails with which the switch I points are associated.

A further object T of the invention is to provide an improved throw or keeper for switches which will be positive in its action for yieldably retaining the switch points in firm engagement with the main rails.

W YA further object of the invention is to provide a keeper for switch points of switch structures which is of such construction as to permit of the device being readily applied to the switch bridle.

A further object of the invention isto provide an improved switch point keeper for use in connection with switch structures of mine railways, andwhich device is of such construction. as to permit of the keeper being mounted between certain of the cross ties and thus protected from injury thru the numerous deraihnents of cars occurring in mine railways.

still further and important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be very economically manufactured, one which will remain'in eflicient pperation over a considerable period of time, a d one which may be very easily applied for use. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the courseof the following detailed description, taken in con nection" with the accompanying drawings 0 forming a part of' this specification and in whichdrawings I .Figure 1 is a' fragmentary top plan view of a switch structure of-conventional construction; and showing the improved keeper associated therewith.

. Figure 2 is anenlarged section on line 2-2 of'Figure 1 and showing the manner in which the switch points 'areyieldably held in one 'setposition; v

i Y 3 is an'enlarged fragmentary sec- Serial No. 277,499.

tion and showing the keeper structure in a position for retaining the switch points in opposite set position from that illustratedin Figure 2. I

Figure 4is a horizontal fragmentary section taken substantially on the line H of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts thruout the several views, the letter A designates generally the switch structure provided with the operating means B, and C the throw or keeper for yieldably retaining the operating means B in either of its set positions.

The railway with which the improved keeper has been shown associated ispreferably of the light gauge type such as employed in mining operations or the like, and includes a thru main rail 5 and a main turnout rail 6 between which the switch structure A is disposed.

Thelswitch structure A includes a pair of switch points 7 and 8 arranged inwardly of the rails 5 and 6 respectively and pivotally or otherwise connected at one end to the curved and straight lead rails 9 and 10 respectively. The forward ends of the switch points may be beveled as in usual practice for proper engagement with the inner sides of the main rails 5 and 6. The rails 5 and 6 are mounted upon suitable cross ties 11 over the upper faces of which the switch points 7 and 8 slidably move'into engagement with the main rails. Tie bars 12 and 13 connect theforward switch points and preferably have their ends movable beneaththe main rails between adjacent cross ties as in usual practice. Suitable brackets 15 carried by the upper sides of the tie bars 12 and 13 engage the inner sides of the switch points 7 and 8 to serve as spacers for the points and as means for securing the switch points to the tie bars. 2

' Secured longitudinally of and beneath the tie bar 12 and extending between two of adjacent ties 11 is a bridle or draw bar 16 forming a part of the operating means B. The bridle is secured to the tie bar 12 by suitable brackets 17 so that upon longitudinal movement of the bridle, the tie bar will also be moved longitudinally for shifting the switch points 7 and 8 transversely of the ties 11. The operating means B further includes a hand lever 18 which is pivotally mounted as by means of a suitable bracket 19 to one end of an elongated tie 11 and at that side of the track at which the main turnout rail 6 is disposed. Pivotally. connected at one end to the lower end of the hand lever 18 is a suitable link 19, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected, to one end of the bridle 16 adjacent the rail 6' as by means of a suit.- able pivot bolt 20. By observing Figure 2 it will be-seen thatthru swinging of the hand lever 18 the bridle 16 will be shifted longitudinally and transversely of the track for shifting the switch points 7 and 8 toward and away fromtheir rails 5 and 6 respectively.

It will also be observed from Figures 2 and 3 that the end portion 16 ofjthe bridle 16 projects'past the main rail 5, and it isto this .projectingend portion 16 thatthe improved throw or keeper C is attached for so acting upon theibridle as to yieldably retain the switch points ineither of their set positions.

Referring now to the keeper C, the same embodies a supporting housing 25 embodying an L-shaped cover portion providing acover plate 26 and an end plate27.. This cover portion of the housing is preferably formed from a suitable gauge-ofsheet' metal.

Mounted in parallel relation at the inner side of the cover section formed by the plates 26 I and 27 is. a pair of flat sheet metal side plates 28 having flanges 29 formed along two. of their edges for attachment to the plates 26 and 27 as by means of suitable fastening elements such as bolts or rivets 30. These side plates 28 are secured to the angular plates 26 and 27 in spaced relation inwardly of the side edges of the plates as clearly shown in Figure 4 so that the edges of the angular plates 26 and 27 form mounting flanges 31 provided with notches 32 for receiving suitable fastenmg elements such as spikes or the like 33 for the attachment of the housing to the cross ties.

' Pivotally mounted in the upper portion of the open sided housing is a U-shaped throw crank 34 which may be formed from cylindrical bar metal to provide a bearing portion 35 and parallel side arms 36 having outwardly: turned ends 37 for pivotal mounting in the side plates 28. The outturned end portions or trunnions 37 are mounted in the plates 28 at a location intermediate the inner and outer ends of the plates and at'a point relatively near the upper edges of the plates. The bearing portion 35 is of such length as to prevent lateral shifting of the throw crank and thus retains the trunnions 37 in pivotal connection with the side plates. Pivotally mounted in the lower portion of the housing 25 between the side plates v28;and with its pivotal axis arranged in vertical alignment the throw arm.

provide a slideway 44 extending longitudi- 1 nally of the upper. end of the throw arm;

This longitudinally formed, slideway 44"is" intended to receive'the bearing portion 35 ofthe crank 34 wherebygthe bearing portion has free sliding movement intheslideway. The upper ends of the fingers 43 are preferably bent inwardly toward one another for partially or wholly closing the upper end of the slideway and preventing the bearing portion 35 from sliding out of the upper end of Encircling the throw arm 42 is an expansion coilspring45 the lower end of which bears upon the intermediate 7 portion of the crankr40 while the upperend ofthe spring acts upon the bearing portion 35: of the upper crank 34. Thus it will be seen thatthe spring 45 normally acts to swing the throw crank upwardly when swung past 1 center to either side of the pivot'portions37.

Pivotally connected at one end to the projecting end portion 16 of the bridle 16 as by means of a suitable pivot member 46, is a coupling link 47 formed withlarms 48 hav-.

ingcoiled ends 49 for pivotally receiving the bearing portion35 of the crank 34 at each side of the arm 42. This pivotal connection of the coupling link 47 to the bridlel6willpermit of slight vertical movement of the bearing portion 35 during operation of the keeper without creating a binding action. on the bridle. l

It will be observed that the. cranks 34 and 40 have unequal throws, the crank 34 having the greater throw, and that by so having the lower end of the throw arm 42 pivotally connected to the crank 40'thevcrank 40 serves to shift the pivotal center of the lower end of the throw arm and thus increases the angur, lar position of the throw arm when the bearing portion 35 of the crank 34 is swung past center to either side. ofa centerline between the-pivotal mountings of the cranks 34 and 40. This increased angular position .of the a throw arm acts to further resist longitudinal movement of the bridle 16 when the throw .arm is in either of its operative positions. By

observing Figure 3 it will be seen that the lower end of the throw arm 42will'swing in I a an arc to opposite sides of the pivotal mounting of the rockercrank andthus shift the pivotal axisof the throw arm;

With the keeper in a position asillustrated will act to normally urge the bridle. l6 longiin Figure 2.it willbe'seen" that the spring 45 I tudinally toward the hand lever 18 and thus yieldably urge the switch point 8 into engagement with the inner side of the rail 6.

' When the bridle 16 is moved longitudinally,

, Since a hand lever such as shown at 18 when used for operating switches in mine railways are in many instances objectionable owing to lack of space and due to the fact that numerous derailments occur at the switches which result in breaking the lever, itis to be understood that the switch may be thrown in any preferred manner and the hand level 18 dispensed with if such is found undesirable.

I In mounting the keeper, the housing 25 is placed between the ends of the adjacent ties 11 and 11 between which the bridle 16 extends and the coupling link i7 is then connected to the projecting bridle end 16'. When so positioned between the ties, the flanges 31 of the cover and end plates 26 I andf27 will engage respectively the upper faces and end faces of the adjacent cross ties, and after which the housing may be se- Y cured to the ties as bymeans of fastening elements 33. The adjacent ties 11 and 11 shifted longitudinally for a short distance for applying sufficient tension upon the spring 45 and then the rails fastened to the ties for preventing longitudinal movement of the ties. When the housing is in position it will be seen that no portion of the housing projects for any appreciable distance above orbeyond the cross ties and that the movable elements of the keeper are in a protected position between the cross ties.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that a novel and improved constructionfor keepers of this character has been provided which will be simple and efficient in operation, one which may be readily applied to existing types of switch structures, and one wherein the switch points will be yieldably' held against the rails when in either of their set positions.

Changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

' 1. In a keeper for switch points of switch structures including a longitudinally movable bridle, the combination of a housing inone endlof said bridle whereby the bridle isv yieldably'retainedin either of its longitudinally movable positions.

2. In a. keeper} for sw tch points of switch structures including a longitudinally movable bridle, the combination of an open sided housing including parallel spaced apart side plates, a throw crank pivotally mounted in vthe housing and including a bearing portion,

a throw arm pivotally mounted at one end in the side plates with its pivotal axis having relativemovement to the-pivotal axis ofthe throw crank and having its opposite end slidably receiving the bearing portion of the throw crank, an expansion spring encircling the throw arm and engageable at one end with the bearing portion of the throw crank, and a couplinglink pivotally connected to said bearing portion for attachment to one end of .said bridle. I

3. Inakeeper for switchpoints of switch able bridle, the combination of a housing including a pair of parallel spaced apart side plates, a throw crank. pivotally mounted in the sidelplates and including a bearing portion, a rocker crank pivotally mounted between the side plates, a throw arm pivotally. connected atone end to the rocker crank, and having its opposite end slidably 7 receiving said bearing portion, an expansion spring encircling the throw arm with one end acting upon said rocker crank and its opposite end acting upon said bearing portion, and a coupling link pivotally connected at one end to said crank bearing portion and having its opposite end adapted for pivotal connection with one end of said bridle.

4. In a keeper for switch points of switch structures including a longitudinally movable bridle, the combination of a housing inu cluding a pair of parallel spaced apart side plates, a throw crank pivotally mounted between the upper portions of the side plates and including a bearing portion, a rocker crank pivotally mounted in the side plates--' beneath the throw crank, a throw arm pivotally mounted at its lower end upon the rocker crank and having a forked upper end providing a longitudinal way for slidably receiving the bearing portion of the throw crank, an expansion spring encircling the throw arm with one end acting upon the rocker crank and its opposite end acting upon said bearing portion, and a coupling link pivotally connected to said bearing portion for attachment to one end of said bridle.

5. In a keeper for switch points of switch structures including a longitudinally movable bridle, the combination ofa housing ineluding a pair of parallel spaced apart side plates, a throw'crank pivotally mounted between the upper portions of'the plates and including a bearing portion, arocker crank pivotally mountedbetween the lower portions of the plates and having a throw less than that of the throw crank, a throw arm pivotally connected at one end to the rocker crank andslidably receiving said bearing portion at its opposite end, an expansion springencircling the throw arm and acting to normally urge said bearing portion away irom the pivotal end of the throw arm, and a cou- I pling link pivotallyconnected with said bearing portion for connection with one end of said bridle. l

, 6. In a keeper for switch points of switch structures including a longitudinally movable bridle, the combination of a housing, a throw crank pivotally mounted in the housing and including a bearing portion, a throw arm pivotally mounted at one end in the housing and'having spaced arms at its upper'end providing a longitudinal way for slidably receiving the intermediate portion of the throw crank bearing portion, said arms at their upper-ends being drawn together for closing the upper end of the way, an expansion spring encircling the throw arm for engagement at one end with said bearing portion, and a coupling link having arms for pivotal connection with the bearing portion at opposite sides of said spring and having its opposite end adapted for pivotal connection to one end of said bridle. ALBERT GALEY. 

